Burscough Heritage weekend to be biggest and best yet

Burscough is making plans to bring the village alive with History and Heritage in June.

200 years ago in 1816 the Leeds and Liverpool canal, that had reached Burscough in 1774, was finally completed throughout its 127and ¼ miles.

With substantial financial support from the Burscough Parish council the heritage weekend , established by Burscough Heritage Group in 2011 has now evolved into a joint venture with H&R Ainscough Barge Restoration Project, The Wharf and other local organisations.

More groups are welcome to participate to make the event even bigger and better.

Based around the Leeds and Liverpool canal and Burscough Wharf for the weekend of the 18 and 19 of June the air in the centre of the village will be filled with the sounds sights and smells of old canal boats, fairground rides, lorries, horses and carts, crafts and music.

The H & R Ainscough Barge Restoration Project is organising a Historic Boat Festival to attract as many traditional “working boats” as possible to line the canal, alongside the star attractions: the two ex H & R Ainscough’s boats Ambush and Viktoria.

Their base in the Heritage Room at The Old Stables will be open to the public for information on the 200th Anniversary of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, local families, Ainscoughs Mill and its history.

The H and R Ainscough Barge Restoration Project are also hosting a celebration evening on Saturday 18th June with live music from the group " Beer for Breakfast ", real ale and Hot Pot Supper at Burscough Cricket club where on Sunday 19 there will be a summer fayre.

The Leeds and Liverpool canal society are once again returning to the village for the weekend with their floating exhibition boat “Kennet” Plans are well in hand for guided history walk’s from the wharf along the canal towing path, a raft race along the canal, ride’s in a horse drawn carriage and a vintage bus service from Ormskirk into the village to view even more vintage vehicles on display around the wharf, along with photographs of old Burscough in the arts centre at The Wharf.

The Burscough Heritage group are establishing a “pop up” Heritage centre in The Grove inviting local groups with any heritage connections to come and display their artefacts, photographs etc and meet the public to increase interest in their activates.

Events around the village will run from 10am on both days, with more information coming soon.